The Tasmanian Women’s Second XI returned from Adelaide over the weekend, after taking on South Australia and Western Australia in a string of matches last week.
Playing four matches, two against each state, provided more playing opportunities to cricketers within Cricket Tasmania’s pathways and Premier League competition.
Captained by Tasmanian contracted athlete, Julia Cavanough, Tasmania had several Tigers players in their line-up who all performed well throughout the four games.
Head Coach of the Second XI, and Head of Female Pathways at Cricket Tasmania, Nat Schliov was impressed with how the tour went and saw glimpses into the future of Tasmanian women’s cricket.
“We're reasonably happy with the week away, it's always great to get away and play four full games of cricket.
“Emma Manix-Geeves was certainly the pick of our batters without getting a big score, Beth Lane continued to show her development with her leg spin, and Julia Cavanough's leadership was outstanding which was most pleasing.
“The other highlight for us was the opportunity for our pathway talent to test themselves against quality opposition, with both SA and WA having a nice blend of domestic listed players and their own pathway talent.
“Hopefully the pathway girls have taken away some good learnings that they can now put into place for the rest of the season,” said Schilov.
In their first game, Tasmania restricted Western Australia to 112 in a T20 match on Monday from their twenty overs.
Former Tigers player, Clare Scott was the pick of the bowlers with 4-20 off her four overs and was well supported by Scottish International Chloe Abel who took 2-14, along with Beth Lane and Ella Marsh who took one apiece.
In reply, Tasmania chased down the total with two balls to spare, with Alisa Lister and Emma Manix-Geeves getting them off to a great start with 31 runs each, before Beth Lane and Meg Radford ensured the Tassie squad got home safely.
Game Two against Western Australia was a 50-over match, and again it was Clare Scott who took three wickets, but this time was supported by 14-year-old Mia Barwick, taking three wickets of her own, as WA went onto score 266 all out.
Unfortunately, Tasmania did not score enough runs to chase the target down, but seven of the Tasmanian XI scored over fifteen runs, falling 35 runs short.
In a tough third match against the home team South Australians, Tasmania bowled SA out for 281 with Lane and Marsh taking two-wickets each, and Scott, Barwick, and Sophia Di Venuto taking one.
Manix-Geeves top scored for Tasmania with 30, but four quick wickets in the middle overs of the match made it a difficult chase, as they were bowled out for 128 after 26.2 overs.
The fourth and final match of the tour was another T20 match, with Tasmania scoring 7/128 as Manix-Geeves top scored again, with 37 runs and Clarence batter Kate Sheriff scored 32* not out as they posted a very defendable score.
A four-piece from Tasmania’s Captain, Julia Cavanough (4-28), and single wickets to Lane, Barwick and Ruth Johnston saw South Australia chase the target down with one over to spare.
More Women’s Second XI cricket is likely to follow later in the season, as Cricket Tasmania look to continue to provide more playing opportunities to high potential players in their system.